As New York Fashion Week takes flight, collaboration launches with an exclusive 20th Anniversary event and high-profile exhibition at New York Fashion Week
Supermodel Amber Valletta unveils airline’s special A380 aircraft livery featuring
“NYFW: The Shows” logo and Jimmy Choo campaign on board.

Etihad Airways, the national
airline of the United Arab Emirates and the official airline of New York
Fashion Week, announced the extension of its commitment to the global fashion
industry by collaborating with iconic luxury brand Jimmy Choo. The award-winning
airline is celebrating the world-renowned designer’s 20th Anniversary
with events at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport and in New York
City.

As part of the celebration,
Etihad Airways served as a supporting partner of Jimmy Choo’s VIP event hosted
by the international models featured in the 20th Anniversary campaign
including Amber Valletta, Milla Jovovich, Sasha Pivovarova, Lexi Boling, Taylor
Hill, Jasmine Tookes and Xiao Wen Ju. Highlights of the event included the
unveiling of the brand’s 20th Anniversary campaign video featuring the models and
a live musical performance by Mary J. Blige.

“Jimmy Choo has been revered by the global jetset for two decades, so it is
fitting that Etihad Airways partners with the iconic brand, which shares
similar ambitions – to provide the ultimate in elegance, sophistication and
comfort,” said Patrick Pierce, Vice President of Sponsorships.

“Our aspiration is to become
the airline of choice for the global fashion community, and our collaboration
with Jimmy Choo serves as a natural extension of our fashion week alignment,
particularly during New York Fashion Week,” added Pierce.

On the fashion runway,
Etihad Airways is hosting a VIP lounge with WME | IMG and Jimmy Choo at Skylight
at Moynihan Station, one of the main venues for the shows throughout New York
Fashion Week, from September 8 through 15. The lounge features a retrospective
of the 20 most iconic Jimmy Choo shoes from the past 20 years, as curated by
the brand’s Creative Director, Sandra Choi, and imagery from the Anniversary campaign,
shot by Craig McDean. Along with the
airline’s world-class cabin crew, the lounge will act as a hub for Etihad
Airways’ signature hospitality and will feature imagery from the airline’s
uniform campaign shot by Norman Jean Roy. Italian furniture company Poltrona
Frau, the airline’s exclusive onboard partner for luxury leather upholstery in The
Residence, First and Business classes, are featured within the lounge. In
addition to the brand’s sofas, the display will include armchairs designed by
Peter Marino, all featuring the top quality leather for which Poltrona Frau is
known worldwide.

An Etihad Airways Atelier is
located in the main entrance of the Jimmy Choo VIP lounge, where guests are
invited to have their initials monogrammed on a luggage tag onsite. Each
accessory comes with a custom insert highlighting the Etihad Airways guest
experience.

On the airport tarmac at JFK International Airport, Amber Valletta unveiled an
Etihad Airways A380 livery with the “NYFW: The Shows” branded logo on the
aircraft’s engines and door, along with prints by Jimmy Choo, which are
prominently displayed on board in The Lobby area of the aircraft, located on
the upper deck between the First Apartments and Business Studios.

The Jimmy Choo 20th Anniversary celebration will continue with Etihad Airways
during London Fashion Week and in Abu Dhabi later this year.

This collaboration follows an announcement made in April 2016 of the airline’s
comprehensive global agreement with WME | IMG as a long-term partner of the
fashion industry, connecting the airline with the fashion capitals of the
world. New York is the latest stop in the sponsorship, which supports 17
fashion week events worldwide annually. It follows the airline’s recent
participation at Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai, and shows in London and Milan
will follow next month.

The airline began flying between New York and Abu Dhabi in October 2006 and currently
offers twice-daily service between the two cities on an Airbus A380 and Boeing
777-300ER aircraft but will transition to operating an all A380 service in June
2017.

Etihad Airways and the
airline’s A380 experience, which features The Residence, the only three-room
suite in the commercial skies, have become synonymous with world-class design,
luxury and innovation. On board the A380, the airline’s world-class cabin crew includes
Savoy-trained Butlers dedicated to The Residence, highly-skilled Inflight Chefs
in First Class, Food and Beverage Managers in Business Class and Flying Nannies
trained at the famous Norland College in Economy Class.

Etihad
Airways opened a new First and Business Class lounge at New York’s JFK
International Airport in December 2015, marking a significant investment in
further improving the ground experience for its guests. Conveniently located
immediately after the security checkpoint in Terminal 4, the new lounge
embodies the highest levels of luxury and comfort for discerning travelers.

New
York Fashion Week is the second major partnership for Etihad Airways in New
York following its principle partnership with the New York City Football Club.

Follow Etihad Airways’ coverage
of New
York Fashion Week on Facebook at @etihad.airways, on
Instagram @EtihadAirways and via the hashtag at #RunwayToRunway